Tag: neighbors

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Fruit, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #140

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

This week was full of non-stop activity, but God’s grace was all around me! It was a fruitful and productive week! He directed every step. Even when I wasn’t sure I could accomplish everything, He helped me do it.

Over the weekend, we turned our clocks back as Daylight Saving Time ended. I planned on getting an extra hour of sleep, but instead, I just stayed up a little longer. 😉 I put that time to good use, though. For the first time ever, I put up outside Christmas lights around my garage door! It was fun and worked out better than I planned. Through a series of events, God also provided extra lights to perfectly cover my entryway!

I worked an extra day this week, to get ahead for the holidays. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday were each spent with work, then an afternoon phone call (to various people), followed by an evening activity. Each day was quite busy, but I felt God using me to bless others. I even got to talk to a friend in Oklahoma, which made my day!

Thursday was also full, but really good. I bought groceries before running to an appointment. Then, there was some overlap which made me late for a meeting. Next, I went home to pick up Lydia from the bus. Right after school, our neighbors came over to visit and stayed for dinner. Then, Lydia went to bed and friends came over for Bible study.

On Friday, I had another appointment and ran another errand. It’s that time of year when I try to stock up before winter so I don’t have to go out as much! 🙂 Then, I learned a meeting with my writing coach needed to be rescheduled. So, I used that time to watch a webinar and chat with a friend online. The one hour webinar probably took me two because I kept stopping it in order to text my friend! LOL, both were well worth my attention and I needed to focus!

Last night, a dear friend came over for dinner. We had tacos and she brought dessert, which ended up being delicious cupcakes for Lydia’s birthday in a couple weeks. It was so fun to catch up because we hadn’t seen each other for about month.

The weather has been unusually cold and snowy for this time of year. (Though, really, in Fargo anything is possible!) Today, Lydia and I watched ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ and will hopefully see our friend for another round of tacos! Otherwise, it’s been a relaxing day! God is so good to give us a restful day after a jam-packed week!

Where did you find God’s grace?

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #139

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

This week had some interesting surprises, but I saw God at work all around me!

On Sunday, Lydia went to play with the neighbor boys across the street. She ended up going inside with them for a movie and dinner! I was grateful to have that unexpected time to myself. I called my sister, worked on a project and prepped food for our week.

Monday was a good day to get ahead for the week. I ran some errands, did some housework, and finished an audiobook. It was a good day to be productive!

Wednesday was Halloween. After work, Lydia and I had JBQ at church, so it was our first year of not passing out candy to our neighbors. Even though I don’t love Halloween, I did miss seeing all of our neighbors! Thankfully, Lydia still got some candy and played games with her friends at church. It was a good day overall.

On Thursday, I received a large package in the mail. The box was from my mom and was filled with goodies. She sent me some treats, jewelry, foodie gifts, and some little foxes (house decor). It was such a fun surprise!

I had allotted time on Thursday and Friday to work on a project, but ended up having a few meetings with people instead. As a result,I had a few cool opportunities presented to me. Now I’m praying about each new thing because I want to make sure they are ‘God opportunities.’ I’m thankful for how He directs our steps.

Tonight, we turn back our clocks one hour! (Don’t forget!) I’m looking forward to the extra hour of sleep… unless I get distracted and just stay up later instead! 😉

Where did you find God’s grace?

**********

These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Wisdom

On Halloween

Happy Halloween! I hope you have a fun, safe time with your family and friends tonight!

Quick confession: Out of all the holidays we typically celebrate, Halloween is my least favorite. I will tell you why…and why I don’t opt out!

I found this link about the interesting history of Halloween to be helpful. It seems our modern take on Halloween has lost some of the original intent… It’s not all bad!

The main thing I dislike about Halloween is the frightening masks and creepy costumes. I don’t like not knowing who is who!

And as someone prone to fear, I’m careful about adding fuel to my imagination!

Of course, I’ve learned to deal with the holiday (and fear!) over the years. There are some stores I just avoid because I really don’t appreciate the possibility of running into an ‘evil’ monster as I turn every corner.

For example, one year, Lydia was freaked out by a zombie placed in the bread aisle of all places. I’ve also seen the ‘grim reaper’ and ‘headless horseman’ passing out food samples.

Um, no thanks! I’ll do without…

At the same time, I don’t mind spiders, ‘friendly’ ghosts, or fall decorations like pumpkins. In fact, Lydia and I carved our first pumpkin last weekend! We really enjoyed that and eating a jack-o-lantern pizza with our neighbors!

Obviously, I can choose to overlook the parts I don’t like. Instead, I focus on the fun aspects of Halloween. First, I enjoy seeing Lydia and other kids dress up in cute costumes.

Some people are so creative!

I like passing out candy to trick-or-treaters. As a dietitian, perhaps I should pass out something else, but there are other times for healthy food. Let kids be kids!

I also see the holiday as an opportunity to reach out and love my neighbors.
It’s not every day people are knocking on my door and willing to chat! Instead of avoiding everyone, I can be kind and generous to all who come to my door.

I have a few friends who were born on Halloween, so I enjoy celebrating them. For certain friends, grief can also be a factor as they miss loved ones at the start of the holiday season. I try to encourage them.

Finally, I see October 31st as just another day God has made. Even if I don’t prefer this holiday, I still can rejoice and seize the day for the opportunity it is! That’s a wise win-win!

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God, thanks for the opportunity to love on everyone else around me. Thanks for giving me freedom in Christ; because of Jesus, I don’t have to fear. Help me lay aside my own preferences so that I can see the needs before me. Help me redeem the time and be wise in all I do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you like celebrating Halloween? If so, what is your favorite part?

Tasks: Pray about how to handle Halloween. (Each of us is different, and that’s great!) Consider opening your doors to the community and seize the opportunity to love others!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #138

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

This week, I tried to go with the flow and let God direct my steps. He did a pretty good job as usual! I worked extra days this week, but my patients were really fun.

I ran several errands on Thursday. It took a long time going all over town, but I’m glad I got them all done! It helped to free up my schedule on other days. I went to the eye doctor to pick up some contacts, another appointment, Lowe’s to find a certain type of light bulbs, and Costco to get a few items. I like to stock up before the winter!

Friday ended up being busier than expected. I had a phone meeting that went long and a face-to-face meeting that was canceled. I also caught up with someone else on the phone who needed some encouragement. Then, I ended up cleaning the house, working on a project, and trying out my new coffee maker. It was time well spent! 

We had a lot of fun with our neighbors this week. They brought us some apples and homemade applesauce! Then, the two boys came over last night to hang out while their parents went to a concert. They had fun playing with Lydia and watching a movie. Then, everyone laid down to sleep until their parents picked them up.

Today, Lydia and I slept in and enjoyed a slow morning. Next, we’re going to our neighbors’ house to carve pumpkins and eat pizza! A perfect end to a grace-filled week!

Where did you find God’s grace?

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Fruit, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

All In

 Lately, I have been seeing two words or concepts which keep popping up in daily life: sacrifice and investment. So, I started thinking about the relationship between the two.

Sacrifice implies a loss or even a disadvantage. Investments require a temporary cost now to gain something better later. With investments, there may even be interest!

Now, I usually don’t prefer to do things half-way. I’m either all in or all out. In certain situations, I realize compromise is important. But to me, if anything is worth doing, it’s worth doing well.

Interestingly, it seems most worthwhile goals take a fair amount of time, effort, and/or money. So perhaps you can’t really have a quality investment without some level of sacrifice. Hmmm…

At times, even small things can feel like big sacrifices. Eating well, exercising, and getting adequate rest are examples. But, these are also investments in our health. When that mental switch occurs between sacrifice and investment, my attitude instantly improves! The challenges don’t seem so difficult. The momentary struggle is worth it!

Similarly, in late September, my local school district voted on a referendum for new schools, upgrades to security, and more. For me, it was a no-brainer. Our school district is growing rapidly and needs to make some adjustments.

I’m thankful the referendum passed, but I understand that some people feel differently. It may be a large sacrifice for them. Or, perhaps they have different priorities than me. That’s okay!

My additional annual cost will be somewhere around the cost of a nice pair of shoes. Now, for me, that’s not a big deal. Ultimately, it is an investment in my community and my child.

In a few short years, Lydia will be in a school that is currently overcrowded. The referendum money will help alleviate that issue. It’s worth it…so I’m all in.

A strong marriage also requires a lot of hard work. My neighbors recently celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary. Ten years ago, they planted an apple tree, and this year, they were finally able to harvest enough fruit to make it worthwhile!

They spent a lot of time this past weekend making pies, applesauce, dehydrated apples, etc. Lydia and I even received some delicious homemade “anniversary apple crisp” from their bounty. Their original investment has overflowed to bless us too!

Similarly, parenting is one investment that requires many sacrifices. I’m already starting to see some great things in Lydia. But overall, it will take another 10-20 (30?!) years to see the full impact of all I invest in her. Lord, help me do my best!

I want to be wise with my resources and be a good steward. Still, Lydia is worth every bit of my time, effort/energy, and money. That’s the nature of parenting.

In the same way, spiritual disciplines are also important. Spending time with Jesus is an investment with eternal rewards! That said, we are as close to Him as we want to be.

The more we pray and get to know Jesus, the greater confidence we have that He loves us and is for us. And, the more time we spend reading and memorizing Scripture, the more it flourishes in our hearts.

When we go through tough seasons, we can sacrifice our self-pity and lay down our fear, choosing to praise the Lord despite our troubles. Through worship, we can experience more joy, peace, grace, and blessing.

Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice with His life on the Cross. Then, He gave us the Holy Spirit as a guarantee for what is to come—and to help us live a life full of Victory!

Jesus’ commitment to us shows us just how valuable we are to Him. He gave up everything to rescue us and to prove His love for us. He’s all in!

We can never out-give God—our sacrifices will never measure up—but we can be grateful for all He has done for us! His investment in us continues to grow! Praise God!

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Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus! You are so faithful, going above and beyond to rescue us and bless us. May we show our gratitude and bless others, too…seeing relationships as investments, not just sacrifices. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What kinds of sacrifices and investments are you making in your day-to-day life? Is Jesus part of that process?

Task: Listen to “All In” by Matthew West.

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous, Prayer

Finding Grace #135

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

This was a great week! I felt God moving in the spiritual realm and saw subtle answers to many prayers. It’s as if God is laying the framework for His greater plans. I’m excited to see all He as in store for me and for others. He is so GOOD! 

On Sunday, after a funny conversation about initiative with Lydia, I mowed the lawn for the last time this season. However, it took me about twice as long because my mower blade fell off! (It was fine, and thankfully, I found all the pieces. I used that as an opportunity to take the blade to be sharpened for next season.) Then, I borrowed my neighbors’ mower (and their gas) to complete the job. Later, with another friend’s help, I put away all the outdoor furniture and prepared for winter. I’m thankful for all the help!

On Monday, I had extensive phone conversations, one lasting 2 hours with my writing coach. It was long but worthwhile. I’m glad for the flexible schedule! 

Tuesday and Wednesday were fairly normal with work and church. I enjoyed the kids at JBQ and am impressed by how much of God’s word they retain. On Thursday, I had a meeting with some friends at church that also lasted about 2 hours. We had a fun time brainstorming ideas for ministry. I am grateful for all that God is doing through me!

Last week, Lydia mentioned that the geocache in my little free library was missing. It was a friend’s 4H project intended as a fun way to increase traffic to the little library. I was bummed that someone would take advantage of that goodwill. But, the 4H family bought a replacement geocache, and this week, it arrived! Thank you!!

Where did you find God’s grace?

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #133

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

This was a good week, full of fun events. On Sunday, a pastor I know from Illinois visited; he knows my parents too. He gave me a shout out from the pulpit. It was fun to connect with him after the service. It’s a small world!

On Tuesday, I left work late and missed picking up Lydia from the bus. I texted my neighbor, Melissa, who was able to take Lydia home. When I arrived a few minutes later, she asked if Lydia could stay and play. During that time, I was able to complete a few chores and my Wednesday blog post. Then, she fed us both dinner and dessert! I’m grateful for Melissa’s generosity and God’s provision! Thank you! 🙂

Lydia worked really hard, read and studied all her JBQ questions. She was able to answer all the questions correctly and moved on to the next booklet. I enjoyed leading her group and am impressed by how many kids are memorizing God’s word. What a blessing!

I had my “Facing Fear, Finding Faith” Bible study on Thursday. I’m really grateful for the opportunity to lead the group. Going through this with others helps me, too. I’m glad we don’t have to be afraid!

Today, Lydia and I went with our friend, Sara, to a local ‘junk market’ at the fairgrounds, which as you may guess has antiques, upcycled items, jewelry, specialty foods, as well as new house decor. All afternoon, we had so much fun perusing the market! It’s a fun tradition! I bought a few fun magnets for my refrigerator and a couple of pictures.

We’ve had beautiful weather this week, but, it is starting to get cooler. I’ve noticed fewer Monarch butterflies day-by-day…and the Canada geese also are starting to head south. The trees are also starting to change colors. The autumn is a short season, but it is so lovely! 🙂

Where did you find God’s grace?

**********

These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Worship

Finding Grace #131

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Free photos of Sunflowers

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

This was a really refreshing week with many unexpected but delightful surprises. On Monday, I decided to mow the grass, but also ended up doing about 3.5 hours of yard work. I raked some dead grass, trimmed and mowed, prepared my flower bed for the cooler weather, and even put down some new grass seed. I was sore for days but felt energized!

Work went well this week, including one day when all my patients canceled or didn’t show. Weird! Thankfully, the patients I did see really were encouraged along their journey. It was rewarding for me to connect with them and feel that I was helpful. 

Wednesday evening kicked off Junior Bible Quiz (JBQ) at church. This year, the format will be a little different but the changes are for the better. I will be in charge of the Kindergartners and first graders, so Lydia is pleased about that. We met some new kids, who were so cute and talkative. It will be a fun year learning God’s Word!

On Thursday, I had an important conference call with an advisor and was happy that it went well. As we talked, I was so encouraged by how well God has taken care of me and Lydia over the years. His love never fails! Afterward, I went to see a movie and my neighbors picked up Lydia from the bus. It was a fun and rewarding day!

This week we’ve had outstanding weather! It’s been unusually calm and sunny in the mid-70s. It has also been a little cooler in the morning, and fall is just around the corner. I’m looking forward to the next season, but I will enjoy today while it lasts! 🙂

Thank You, Jesus!! Where did you find God’s grace?

**********

These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #130

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

This was a red-letter week, and I am counting every blessing! First, Lydia started school again. She had been counting down the days for about a month. She was excited to start a new routine and see her friends. On her first day, she said her favorite activities were snack, recess, lunch, and art. 🙂 Also, we’ve had good weather for walking to the bus!

Now that school is back in session, I have a little more “free” time. Generally, this equates to fewer daycare costs and more quiet time to write, do housework, or run errands. Nice, but not so glamorous. On Thursday, however, I got a massage and then caught up with a friend I hadn’t seen for a couple months! Very refreshing!

This week, I received fresh tomatoes from my uncle in Ohio! He used to send tomatoes to my aunt (his sister) each year when she lived in Colorado. Since she died, I am honored to receive them on her behalf. They were delicious!

On Friday, after Lydia got on the bus, I took a brisk 45-minute walk around the surrounding neighborhood. It felt good to get the exercise! Then, I came home and spent time writing. I also made veggie soup, did two loads of laundry, and felt so productive!

Today, Lydia went to our neighbors’ house to play, while I was able to get several things accomplished. And tonight, their kids are playing at my house with Lydia while they go out. It’s a win-win for all of us! I’m grateful to have such great neighbors and friends.

It was another joyful week. Thank You, Jesus!!

Where did you find God’s grace this week?

**********

These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #127

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

This was a fun week and I am thankful for how God moved. I wasn’t sure I would meet a deadline for Monday, but I did! Later in the week, I got encouraging feedback from my editor. Whew! 🙂

Work went well this week and I had a full schedule. It has taken me a long time to find joy in my work again. For several years after Dave died, nothing seemed exciting…let alone work! Lately, it has started feeling good again. Being part of a team and having patients who are eager to learn has helped!

This week, we hung out with neighbors, enjoying ice cream and pool time. Yesterday, Lydia went down the block for a get-together with girls in her grade. She had fun but came home not feeling well. She had a headache and a slight fever. After I took her temperature, she went to bed early. She needed the rest!

Today, Lydia is feeling mostly better (just a bad cold). I encouraged her to take it easy, so she has been watching ‘My Little Pony’ and relaxing on the couch! I also have been enjoying the quiet day. I’m glad I ran my errands earlier in the week!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Where did you find God’s grace this week?